Hundreds attend Community Easter Egg Hunt

Hundreds of children and parents came to Riverside Park this past Saturday for the Hope 4 Mitchell County Community Easter Egg Hunt.

Nearly 8,000 eggs were strewn across sections of Riverside Park for three separate age-specific hunts, which took place a weekend earlier this year so as to not interfere with any church’s Easter weekend festivities.

“Our plan is to do this every year,” said Rocky Branch, pastor of Spruce Pine First Baptist Church and co-founder of Hope 4 Mitchell County with his wife, Janice. “This is something great for the community and gives us another chance to spread the good word of the Lord.”

The Toe River Health District, the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children and the Bakersville Community Health Center had information booths at the hunt.

Provisions have been made to have the hunt in the church in the event of inclement weather in the future, Branch said.

Hope 4 Mitchell County offered a complimentary hot dog lunch in the fellowship hall of Spruce Pine First Baptist Church at the conclusion of the hunt.

Hope 4 Mitchell County is a nonprofit organization serving the needs of children, families and individuals in Mitchell County. It is nondenominational and takes a faith-based approach to positively affect Mitchell County through outreach projects, community events, free counseling and various other programs.